CBER Partnering With State to Provide Clearer Labor Market Analysis

Posted: July 14, 2017

The Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economicsrecently entered into a partnership with the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics (KCEWS) to prepare economic analyses on the state’s workforce and labor market data, including the monthly statewide and county unemployment rate news releases.

CBER, a research branch of the Gatton College, provides expertise on business and economic data on Kentucky and relevant public policy information to interested stakeholders, government agencies, business and media.

“Monthly changes in employment data can be difficult to interpret. CBER’s experience analyzing Kentucky’s economy will allow us to put these monthly changes in a broader context that provides a more accurate indication of the state’s economic performance,” said Christopher Bollinger, director of CBER and a professor of economics at UK.

KCEWS is an agency in the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet that collects and integrates education and workforce data so that policymakers, practitioners and the public can make the best informed decisions possible.

“We are excited about this new partnership because it goes hand-in-hand with the work that the KCEWS does in developing education, workforce and employment metrics,” said KCEWS Executive Director Kate Akers. “CBER’s expertise in analyzing economic and labor market trends in Kentucky will add depth and breadth to the information and data KCEWS currently produces.”

Bollinger added, “This analysis will help the cabinet and policymakers better identify groups and areas of the state that struggle to find and maintain employment. This is an important step in understanding the barriers preventing individuals from entering the labor force and developing effective policies to address these barriers.”